“The level of engagement has
been very pleasing, and staff and governance have responded
admirably to the urgent need to prepare this plan in a
timely and collaborative way,” Dame Margaret said.

“This plan is vital to help the community of
Christchurch recover, to offer certainty regarding land use
and infrastructure, assist investment decisions, and help
people and businesses locate and relocate.”

Community input was vital to the preparation of the
document, Dame Margaret said. “When we released the
preliminary draft Recovery Plan for comment, we received
many positive suggestions on ways recovery could be
facilitated. These comments helped improve the draft
document.”

The draft plan provides for development
in new areas. Comments received encouraged the strategic
partners to look more closely at how intensification and
providing a mix of housing can be promoted in existing urban
areas, and to focus on rebuilding communities, not just
buildings.

“We received strong support for a compact
city and making medium-density development happen.”

Dame Margaret said the Environment Canterbury
Commissioners valued the opportunity to develop the draft
Land Use Recovery Plan and “to have done so in a way that
has enhanced the relationships among the strategic
partners”.

“We look forward to continuing to
support CERA as the Land Use Recovery Plan is finalised and
then implemented. This plan supports existing CERA plans and
programmes to rebuild communities, support business
innovation, growth and prosperity, and to create a
high-quality urban environment that will be the envy of
cities across Australasia.”

Public comments on the
draft will be received by CERA from 6 July to 2 August –
go to www.cera.govt.nz/lurp. The Land Use Recovery Plan
website, www.developingchoices.org.nz, carries supporting
and background information.

The Minister will consider
the draft following the closing date for public comment. A
report summarising feedback received on the preliminary
draft is now publicly available, together with other
documents given to the Minister.

Summary

The draft
Land Use Recovery Plan includes 56 Actions, and a commitment
from the strategic partners to deliver results for recovery
immediately and over the next 10-15 years. It:

·
Supports and complements the Christchurch Central Recovery
Plan to create the thriving heart of an international
city

· Provides for an anticipated 40,000 new
households in both greenfield and intensification areas

·
Sets a target for 18,000 new households to be provided
within existing urban areas to provide medium-density
housing, especially within Christchurch’s existing Living
3 and Living 4 zones and Key Activity Centres

·
Provides for delivery of at least two catalyst projects for
“exemplar” medium-density, more affordable housing
development

· Enables delivery of social and
affordable housing, including support for Housing New
Zealand Corporation’s Canterbury Investment Plan

·
Supports housing for Māori returning to their ancestral
lands

· Identifies Key Activity Centres and
supports neighbourhood centres to provide certainty for
commercial investment and a focus for infrastructure,
community facilities and mixed use development

·
Provides for 550 hectares of greenfield business land and
supports business innovation, growth and prosperity

·
Provides confidence and helps to coordinate delivery of
infrastructure with housing

· Takes lessons from
the earthquakes and natural hazard risks

·
Identifies a range of tools to deliver all actions,
including incentives and advisory services, collaboration
and intervention, catalyst projects and regulation
changes.ends

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